Optical communication coupling module

Abstract

The utility model relates to an optical communication coupling module. The optical communication coupling module comprises at least one photodiode, an analog-to-digital converter, and a variable resistor or a digital-to-analog converter. The photodiode is used for detecting the quantity of laser light; an analog-to-digital converter connected to the photodiode; the variable resistor is connected to the photodiode, and the digital-to-analog converter is connected to the analog-to-digital converter; according to a comparison result of an input voltage of the photodiode and a threshold voltage, a resistance value of the variable resistor is adjusted, or a reference voltage of the analog-to-digital converter is adjusted, so that whether the analog-to-digital converter is started or not is determined, and the analog-to-digital converter is in a dynamic range.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an electronic device and an operating method thereof, and in particular, to an optical communication coupling module and an operating method thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the prior art, the amount of light emitted by a laser diode (LD) in an optical communication coupling module is usually monitored. After receiving the amount of light from the laser diode, an input current is obtained. In the monitoring process, the input current is proportional to the amount of light, and the bias current of the laser diode is adjusted to change the amount of light emitted by the laser diode.

[0003] However, in order to achieve hot swapping or hot plugging (referring to plugging in or unplugging hardware while the device is operating), and to be applicable to various types of laser diodes, the dynamic range of the above-mentioned input current is usually 100 nA to 10 mA, which may exceed the dynamic range of the subsequent components of the monitoring circuit, resulting in operation errors, or different subsequent components need to be set for different types, which greatly increases the complexity and cost of circuit design. UTILITY MODEL CONTENT

[0004] To solve the above technical problems, the purpose of the present application is to provide an optical communication coupling module and an operating method thereof, which uses the comparison result of a comparator to control the resistance value of a variable resistor or the reference voltage of an analog-to-digital converter, so that the input voltage does not exceed the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter. Therefore, the optical communication coupling module will not have operation errors, and can be applicable to different types of laser diodes at the same time.

[0005] The purpose of the present application and the solution to its technical problems are achieved by using the following technical solutions. According to one aspect, the present application provides an optical communication coupling module. The optical communication coupling module includes a photo diode (PD), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a variable resistor. One end of the variable resistor is connected to the photo diode. The resistance value of the variable resistor is adjusted according to the comparison result of an input voltage of the photo diode and a threshold voltage, and the analog-to-digital converter is determined to be enabled or not according to the comparison result, so as to avoid the input voltage exceeding the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an optical communication coupling module is provided. The optical communication coupling module includes a photodiode (PD), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The digital-to-analog converter is connected to the analog-to-digital converter. The digital-to-analog converter adjusts a reference voltage of the analog-to-digital converter according to a comparison result of an input voltage of the photodiode and a threshold voltage. The analog-to-digital converter is enabled or disabled according to the comparison result to avoid the input voltage exceeding a dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an optical communication coupling module is provided. The optical communication coupling module includes a photodiode (PD), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The digital-to-analog converter is connected to the analog-to-digital converter. The digital-to-analog converter adjusts a reference voltage of the analog-to-digital converter according to a comparison result of an input voltage of the photodiode and a threshold voltage. The analog-to-digital converter is enabled or disabled according to the comparison result to avoid the input voltage exceeding a dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an optical communication coupling module is provided. The optical communication coupling module includes a photodiode (PD), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The digital-to-analog converter is connected to the analog-to-digital converter. The digital-to-analog converter adjusts a reference voltage of the analog-to-digital converter according to a comparison result of an input voltage of the photodiode and a threshold voltage. The analog-to-digital converter is enabled or disabled according to the comparison result to avoid the input voltage exceeding a dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter.

[0009] For better understanding of the above and other aspects of the present disclosure, examples thereof will be given with reference to the following Figures in detail: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 A circuit diagram of an optical communication coupling module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0011] Figure 2 A flowchart of an operation method of an optical communication coupling module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0012] Figure 3 A circuit diagram of an optical communication coupling module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0013] Figure 4 A flowchart of an operation method of an optical communication coupling module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The technical contents, features and effects of the foregoing and other technical contents of the present application will be clearly presented in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The following description of the embodiments is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to illustrate specific embodiments in which the present application can be implemented. The technical terms in the present specification are based on the conventional terms in the technical field, and if the present specification describes or defines some terms, the interpretation of the terms is based on the description or definition in the present specification. Each embodiment of the present disclosure has one or more technical features. Those with ordinary knowledge in the art can selectively implement some or all of the technical features in any embodiment, or selectively combine some or all of the technical features in these embodiments, under the premise of possibility.

[0015] The drawings and the description are considered to be illustrative in nature, rather than limiting. In the drawings, similar elements are denoted by the same reference numbers. In addition, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for understanding and convenience of description, but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0016] In order to further illustrate the technical means and effects taken by the present application to achieve the predetermined application purposes, the specific embodiments, structures, features and effects of a light communication coupling module and an operating method thereof according to the present application are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments.

[0017] Please refer to Figure 1 , which shows a circuit diagram of a light communication coupling module 100 according to an embodiment of the present application. In a light transmission system, the laser LS of a laser diode (LD) 900 can represent "0" and "1" in light intensity to transmit digital information. However, the light amount L of the laser LS cannot be too high to avoid overheating of the system. The light amount L of the laser LS also cannot be too low to cause unstable signal reception.

[0018] In an embodiment, the light communication coupling module 100 is used to detect the light amount L of the laser LS of the laser diode 900, so that the light amount L of the laser LS can be controlled within a predetermined range. It is worth noting that the light communication coupling module 100 of the present disclosure is not used to detect "0" and "1", but to accurately detect the value of the light amount L.

[0019] As Figure 1As shown, the optical communication coupling module 100 includes at least a photo diode (PD) 110, a switch 120, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 130, a comparator 140, and a variable resistor 150. In an embodiment, the switch 120 and the comparator 140 can be omitted, and the functions of the switch 120 and / or the comparator 140 can be implemented by other components or the analog-to-digital converter 130. The following description of the optical communication coupling module 100 is provided with the switch 120 and the comparator 140, but the present technology is not limited thereto.

[0020] In an embodiment, the photo diode 110 receives the laser LS from the laser diode 900 and generates an input current Ipd1. The input current Ipd1 is proportional to the light amount L of the laser LS.

[0021] In an embodiment, in order to detect the size of the input current Ipd1, a resistor can be provided to convert the input current Ipd1 into an input voltage Vpd1, and the analog-to-digital converter 130 can be used to convert the input voltage Vpd1 into a digital signal.

[0022] In an embodiment, the optical communication system usually uses multiple photo diodes 110, and the multiple photo diodes 110 usually correspond to a shared analog-to-digital converter 130. Therefore, it is often necessary to use the switch 120 to switch the path.

[0023] In an embodiment, since the dynamic range of the input current Ipd1 is usually 100 nA to 10 mA, which may sometimes exceed the dynamic range of 12 bits (x4096) to 16 bits (x65536) of the analog-to-digital converter 130, the present application provides a circuit design to dynamically adjust the resistance value R1 of the variable resistor 150, so that the analog-to-digital converter 130 falls within the dynamic range of 12 bits (x4096) to 16 bits (x65536). As shown in the embodiment, Figure 1 The comparator 140 and the variable resistor 150 are used to dynamically adjust the resistance value R1 to avoid the input voltage Vpd1 or the input current Ipd1 exceeding the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter 130.

[0024] Please continue to refer to Figure 1 The switch 120 is connected to the photo diode 110. The analog-to-digital converter 130 is connected to the switch 120. The comparator 140 is connected between the photo diode 110 and the switch 120. The variable resistor 150 is connected between the comparator 140 and the photo diode 110.

[0025] In one embodiment, the comparator 140 is configured to output a comparison result RS1 of the input voltage Vpdl of the photodiode 110 and the threshold voltage Vthl. The resistance value Rl of the variable resistor 150 is adjusted according to the comparison result RS1, and the switch 120 can also be determined whether to turn on or off the analog-to-digital converter 130 according to the comparison result RS1 to avoid the input voltage Vpdl exceeding the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter 130, protecting the safety of the circuit. The principle of the circuit design of the present application is to dynamically adjust the resistance value Rl of the variable resistor 150 according to the comparison result RS1, so that the analog-to-digital converter 130 falls within the safe dynamic range of 12 bits (x4096) ~ 16 bits (x65536).

[0026] In detail, the comparator 140 has a first input end inl l, a second input end inl2 and an output end outl. The first input end inl l is connected between the photodiode 110 and the switch 120. The second input end inl2 is connected to the threshold voltage Vthl. The output end outl is connected to the variable resistor 150.

[0027] In one embodiment, the threshold voltage Vthl has several levels, for example, so that the comparison result RS1 obtained by the comparator 140 can be a voltage range interval of the input voltage Vpdl. The resistance value Rl of the variable resistor 150 can be adjusted according to the voltage range interval.

[0028] For example, the threshold voltage Vthl has 7 levels to classify the input voltage Vpdl as one of 8 voltage range intervals. For example, the comparator 140 can be a multi-stage comparison circuit using binary search to gradually classify the input voltage Vpdl to a certain voltage range interval.

[0029] In one embodiment, the variable resistor 150 can be set to have a corresponding resistance value Rl corresponding to different voltage range intervals. For example, when the input voltage Vpdl is too high, the resistance value Rl can be reduced to avoid exceeding the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter 130.

[0030] Please refer to Figure 2 , which shows a flowchart of the operation method of the optical communication coupling module 100 according to one embodiment of the present application. The operation method of the present application will be described with the optical communication coupling module 100 of the first drawing as an example, but the operation method of the present application is not limited thereto. The operation method of the optical communication coupling module 100 includes steps S110-S150. In step S110, the comparator 140 receives the input voltage Vpdl of the photodiode 110.

[0031] Then, in step S120, the comparator 140 receives the threshold voltage Vthl.

[0032] Then, in step S130, the comparator 140 obtains a comparison result RS1 according to the input voltage Vpdl and the threshold voltage Vthl. In step S130, the comparator 140 gradually searches the voltage range interval of the input voltage Vpdl by using a binary search method, and the comparison result RS1 is the voltage range interval of the input voltage Vpdl.

[0033] Next, in step S140, the resistance value Rl of the variable resistor 150 is adjusted according to the comparison result RS1. The variable resistor 150 can be set to have a corresponding resistance value Rl corresponding to different voltage range intervals. For example, when the input voltage Vpdl is too high, the resistance value Rl can be reduced to avoid exceeding the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter 130.

[0034] Then, in step S150, the switch 120 between the photodiode 110 and the analog-to-digital converter 130 is turned on to activate the analog-to-digital converter 130 connected to the photodiode 110. Step S150 is performed after step S140 to ensure that the input voltage Vpdl is within the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter 130 to maintain normal operation.

[0035] In addition to the above circuit design and method, under the same general application concept, the present application can also use another embodiment described below to avoid the input voltage exceeding the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter.

[0036] Please refer to Figure 3 , which shows a circuit diagram of an optical communication coupling module 200 according to another embodiment of the present application. The optical communication coupling module 200 is used to detect the light quantity L of the laser LS of the laser diode 900, so that the light quantity L of the laser LS can be controlled within a predetermined range. It is worth mentioning that the optical communication coupling module 200 of the present disclosure is not used to detect "0" and "1", but to accurately detect the value of the light quantity L.

[0037] As Figure 3 shown, the optical communication coupling module 200, for example, includes at least one photodiode (PD) 210, a switch 220, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 230, a comparator 240, a fixed resistor 250, and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 260. In an embodiment, the switch 220 and the comparator 240 can be omitted, and the functions of the switch 220 and / or the comparator 240 can be realized by other components or the analog-to-digital converter 230 and / or the digital-to-analog converter 260. The optical communication coupling module 200 described below is taken as an example containing the switch 220 and the comparator 240 for description, but the present technology is not limited thereto.

[0038] In one embodiment, the photodiode 210 generates an input current Ipd2 after receiving the laser LS from the laser diode 900. The input current Ipd2 is proportional to the light intensity L of the laser LS.

[0039] In one embodiment, in order to detect the magnitude of the input current Ipd2, a fixed resistor 250 is provided to convert the input current Ipd2 into an input voltage Vpd2, and then an analog-to-digital converter 230 is used to convert the input voltage Vpd2 into a digital signal.

[0040] In one embodiment, a plurality of photodiodes 210 are usually used in an optical communication system, and the plurality of photodiodes 210 usually correspond to one shared analog-to-digital converter 230. Therefore, a switch 220 is needed to switch the path.

[0041] In one embodiment, since the dynamic range of the input current Ipd2 is usually 100 nA to 10 mA, which can exceed the dynamic range of 12 bits (x4096) to 16 bits (x65536) of the analog-to-digital converter 230, the embodiment of FIG. 3 uses a comparator 240 and a digital-to-analog converter 260 to dynamically adjust the reference voltage Vref2 to avoid the input voltage Vpd2 exceeding the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter 230.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the switch 220 is connected to the photodiode 210. The analog-to-digital converter 230 is connected to the switch 220. The comparator 240 is connected between the photodiode 210 and the switch 220. The digital-to-analog converter 260 is connected between the analog-to-digital converter 230 and the comparator 240.

[0043] In one embodiment, the comparator 240 outputs a comparison result RS2 of the input voltage Vpd2 of the photodiode 210 and a threshold voltage Vth2. The digital-to-analog converter 260 adjusts the reference voltage Vref2 of the analog-to-digital converter 230 according to the comparison result RS2 to avoid the input voltage Vpd2 exceeding the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter 230. The principle of the circuit design of the present application is to dynamically adjust the reference voltage Vref2 of the analog-to-digital converter 230 according to the comparison result RS2 so that the analog-to-digital converter 230 falls within the safe dynamic range of 12 bits (x4096) to 16 bits (x65536).

[0044] In one embodiment, in detail, the comparator 240 has a first input terminal in21, a second input terminal in22, and an output terminal out2. The first input terminal in21 is connected between the photodiode 210 and the switch 220. The second input terminal in22 is connected to the threshold voltage Vth2. The output terminal out2 is connected to the digital-to-analog converter 260.

[0045] In one embodiment, the threshold voltage Vth2 has several levels, for example, such that the comparison result RS2 obtained by the comparator 240 can be a voltage range interval of the input voltage Vpd2. The digital-to-analog converter 260 then adjusts different reference voltages Vref2 according to the voltage range interval.

[0046] In one embodiment, for example, the threshold voltage Vth2 has 7 levels, to classify the input voltage Vpd2 as one of 8 voltage range intervals. For example, the comparator 240 can be a multi-stage comparison circuit, using binary search to gradually classify the input voltage Vpd2 to a voltage range interval.

[0047] In one embodiment, the digital-to-analog converter 260 can set corresponding reference voltages Vref2 corresponding to different voltage range intervals.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 4, a flowchart of an operation method of the optical communication coupling module 200 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The operation method of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the optical communication coupling module 200 of FIG. 3, but the operation method of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The operation method of the optical communication coupling module 200 includes steps S210-S250. In step S210, the comparator 240 receives the input voltage Vpd2 of the photodiode 210.

[0049] Next, in step S220, the comparator 240 receives the threshold voltage Vth2.

[0050] Then, in step S230, the comparator 240 obtains a comparison result RS2 according to the input voltage Vpd2 and the threshold voltage Vth2. In step S230, the comparator 240 gradually searches for a voltage range interval of the input voltage Vpd2 using binary search, and the comparison result RS2 is the voltage range interval of the input voltage Vpd2.

[0051] Next, in step S240, the reference voltage Vref2 of the digital-to-analog converter 260 is adjusted according to the comparison result RS2. The digital-to-analog converter 260 can set corresponding reference voltages Vref2 corresponding to different voltage range intervals.

[0052] Then, in step S250, the switch 220 between the photodiode 210 and the analog-to-digital converter 230 is turned on to activate the analog-to-digital converter 230 connected to the photodiode 210. Step S250 is performed after step S240 to ensure that the input voltage Vpd2 is within the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter 230 to maintain normal operation.

[0053] According to the above embodiments, the optical communication coupling module 100, 200 and the method of operating the same can utilize the comparison result RS1, RS2 of the comparator 140, 240 to control the resistance value R1 of the variable resistor 150 or the reference voltage Vref2 of the analog-to-digital converter 230, such that the input voltage Vpd1, Vpd2 does not exceed the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter 130, 230. Therefore, the optical communication coupling module 100, 200 does not have the case of operation error, and can be suitable for different types of laser diodes 900 at the same time.

[0054] The foregoing disclosure provides different features used to implement some embodiments or examples of the present disclosure. The specific examples of the components and configurations described above (e.g., the numerical values or names mentioned) are to simplify / suggest some embodiments of the present disclosure. Of course, such components and configurations are only examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, some embodiments of the present disclosure can refer to the same reference signs and / or letters in various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or configurations discussed. The operation and explanation of each component in the wireless communication identification method of the present application can refer to the description of each embodiment in the wireless communication identification system, which is not repeated here. The phrase "in an embodiment" is repeatedly used. This phrase usually does not refer to the same embodiment; however, it can also refer to the same embodiment. The words "comprise", "have" and "include" are synonymous and are used interchangeably unless their context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0055] The above is only a specific embodiment of the present application, which is easy for those skilled in the art to understand the content of the present application, and does not limit the present application in any form. Although the present application has been disclosed as above with specific embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present application. Any person skilled in the art can make some minor changes or modifications to the above disclosed technical content to obtain equivalent embodiments with equivalent changes without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present application. Any simple modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present application are still within the scope of the technical solution of the present application.

Claims

1. An optical communication coupling module, characterized in that, The optical communication coupling module comprises: a photo diode for detecting an amount of light of a laser; an analog-to-digital converter connected to the photo diode; and a variable resistor connected to the photo diode, or a digital-to-analog converter connected to the analog-to-digital converter; wherein, according to a comparison result of an input voltage of the photo diode and a threshold voltage, a resistance value of the variable resistor is adjusted, or a reference voltage of the analog-to-digital converter is adjusted, to determine whether to enable the analog-to-digital converter so that the analog-to-digital converter falls within a dynamic range.

2. The optical coupling module of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising: a switch connected between the photo diode and the analog-to-digital converter to turn on or turn off the analog-to-digital converter; and a comparator having a first input end, a second input end and an output end, the first input end being connected between the photo diode and the switch, the second input end being connected to the threshold voltage, and the output end being connected to the variable resistor, the comparator being used to compare the input voltage of the photo diode and the threshold voltage to obtain the comparison result.

3. The optical coupling module of claim 2, wherein the ferrule is made of a material that is transparent to the light. The variable resistor is connected between the comparator and the photo diode, the comparison result is a voltage range interval of the input voltage, and the resistance value of the variable resistor is adjusted according to the voltage range interval.

4. The optical coupling module of claim 3, wherein the optical coupling module is configured to be mounted to a printed circuit board. The comparator searches for the voltage range interval of the input voltage by a binary search method.

5. The optical fiber communication coupling module of claim 1, wherein, The threshold voltage has multiple levels.

6. The optical coupling module of claim 1, wherein the optical coupling module is configured to be mounted to a printed circuit board. The comparison result is a voltage range interval of the input voltage, and the resistance value of the variable resistor is adjusted according to the voltage range interval.

7. The optical coupling module of claim 2, wherein the optical coupling module is configured to be mounted on a printed circuit board. Further comprising: the digital-to-analog converter is connected to the analog-to-digital converter; and a comparator having a first input end, a second input end and an output end, the first input end being connected between the photo diode and the switch, the second input end being connected to the threshold voltage, and the output end being connected to the digital-to-analog converter, the digital-to-analog converter being connected between the analog-to-digital converter and the comparator, and the comparator being used to compare the input voltage of the photo diode and the threshold voltage to obtain the comparison result.

8. The optical coupling module of claim 7, wherein the optical coupling module is configured to be mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) by soldering the solder pads to the PCB. 5 The digital-to-analog converter adjusts the reference voltage of the analog-to-digital converter according to the comparison result of the input voltage of the photo diode and the threshold voltage, the comparison result is a voltage range interval of the input voltage, the digital-to-analog converter adjusts the reference voltage according to the voltage range interval, and the analog-to-digital converter is determined whether to be enabled according to the comparison result to avoid the input voltage exceeding the dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converter.

9. The optical fiber alignment module of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber alignment module is configured to be mounted to a fiber optic connector assembly. 5 The optical communication coupling module is used to detect an amount of light of a laser of a laser diode, so that the amount of light of the laser is controlled within a predetermined range.

10. The optical fiber communication coupling module of claim 1, wherein, The threshold voltage has 7 levels.

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